Sex and COVID-19: A Protective Role for Reproductive Steroids.

Evidence shows coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-induced symptom severity and mortality is more frequent in men than in women, suggesting sex steroids may play a protective role. Female reproductive steroids, estrogen and progesterone, and its metabolite allopregnanolone, are anti-inflammatory, reshape competence of immune cells, stimulate antibody production, and promote proliferation and repair of respiratory epithelial cells, suggesting they may protect against COVID-19 symptoms.